Athens-Clarke County Unified Government in Georgia announced on Sept. 2 that Hemant Desai was appointed the government’s new chief information officer (CIO) and Information Technology Department director, effective Sept. 28.
Desai brings more than 20 years of technology leadership experience across government, nonprofit, and education organizations, according to the county’s press release. His previous work has included cloud modernization, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, identity management, data governance, and digital transformation.
“Technology works best when it’s invisible to the people it serves, quietly making government more responsive, more secure, and more connected to the community. I look forward to building that kind of technology foundation alongside the Mayor and Commission and staff to earn the trust of the residents we serve every day,” Desai said.
Most recently, Desai spent nearly five years as CIO for the International City/County Management Association, a Washington-based nonprofit that serves local government professionals worldwide. In that position, he led initiatives involving cloud modernization, identity management, AI governance, and digital transformation.
Before joining the association, Desai spent more than a decade with Guilford County Government in North Carolina, serving as project manager, director of client services, and, for nearly eight years, CIO. As CIO, he oversaw 52 IT professionals responsible for enterprise IT operations, cybersecurity, data governance, infrastructure modernization, and digital transformation.
Guilford County serves more than 540,000 residents across 20 departments, according to the Athens-Clarke County announcement.
In Athens-Clarke County, Desai will lead an IT department responsible for computer services, networks, software applications, system access, equipment, and technical support across county government operations. The department also works to expand the use of technology to improve government efficiency and productivity.
Desai previously served as president and CIO of a regional computer learning center. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University in India and a master’s degree in business administration in technology management from the University of Phoenix, according to the county.
